martin 'hoff
Super Anarchist
Do you have video? It usually helps see whether you have too much/little lift on the foils and other issues.
Had you made changes to the boat? Some custom mods interfere...
Steve and Dave Clarks Unidentified Foiling Object
- Thread starter Doug Lord
- Start date
Had you made changes to the boat? Some custom mods interfere...
Interesting! Is this just a jam cleat shaped to hold in your hand for better grip? Why do you not need to go aft? Is it because you have so much grip that you can bend it enough from the mast's position?
Doesn't look like they are readily available anymore, but I wonder if I can 3D print one or print a "wrapper" for a regular jam cleat.
Dex Sawash
Demi Anarchrist
Screw one of those side mount leech line clams to a piece of closet rod?
Dave Clark
Anarchist
Stupid question, but are you sheeting to as you take off to keep the sail locked into the rapidly shifting apparent wind? As you speed up, if you aren't sheeting hand over hand through the tiller extension (you MUST two hand sheet) you are basically easing which will induce weather roll.
DRC
Ps. Regarding our neighbors at US sailing. We're focused on producing a popular and good product. Whether the sailing government takes an interest in our work at all is entirely beyond our control. Forcing it would consume time that is best spent building and perfecting UFOs. And we're shoulder deep in that!
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Joseph Lapp
New member
Dave
Thank you. I went back to the YouTube and watched UFO Spring training Apr 2018 and understand your two handed sheeting technique. Also found another UFO owner here in Duluth! Cant wait to get together - two heads are better than one old one.
BTW my mistake about US Sailing - it was SailGP not US Sailing. Though it would be great if they recognized the UFO Foiler.
Martin - no video yet but after sustained flight will work on video
Thank you. I went back to the YouTube and watched UFO Spring training Apr 2018 and understand your two handed sheeting technique. Also found another UFO owner here in Duluth! Cant wait to get together - two heads are better than one old one.
BTW my mistake about US Sailing - it was SailGP not US Sailing. Though it would be great if they recognized the UFO Foiler.
Martin - no video yet but after sustained flight will work on video
Kelly Federal
Member
Hey, Joe.
One of the most frequent mistakes I see in the folks I’ve introduced to the boat is just giving up too soon: once the boat starts to heel to windward, they feel like, “Well, it’s over…here I go…I’m going to crash to windward again,” and they just stop sheeting or they try to fix it with steering. Watch the last 15 seconds of this video. You’ll see a buddy of mine who sounds close to your dimensions and is an accomplished VX-1 racer (planing boat) get up and foiling. Notice how the clew is still well outside of the boat — he has loads of room to keep sheeting in, but instead he relies on his planing boat instinct (which does rely on drastic rudder inputs on occasion to keep the boat upright). After I hammered that point home with him, he now has it figured out.
Even after you enter the water to windward, DON’T GIVE UP and KEEP SAILING THE BOAT. The light bulb really came on for me one time when I was underwater getting the full-treatment, high-pressure nasal irrigation, completely blinded by water, but I just forced my hands to do another hand-over-hand sheet in; and in the next second I was four feet out of the water and screaming along in the UFO’s high gear.
You may also want to just try it with full wand extension. I started the last guy I taught with full wand extension (he didn’t know any better) and he was up and foiling in about 30 minutes (video here). It will give you just a tad bit more room to pull off that extra one or two hand-over-hand sheet-ins before the windward hull or your butt/body hits the water and starts slowing the boat down. What do you have to lose? Seriously, don’t be intimidated by full wand extension.
I would argue that it’s absolutely okay to overdo the sheets and eases. Getting that part right, even if you’re over-correcting, will at least keep you on the foils; then with experience you’ll start to fine tune how much to ease and how much to sheet in. A mantra that I keep repeating to myself, especially when I’m in the middle of a long run is “Quick to ease, slow to squeeze.” That is: do whatever is needed to prevent a heel to leeward (including a bear-away if needed), but as I start rolling back to windward, resist the urge to yank in the sheet and instead squeeze it as I settle into rocket mode. That’s where the real fun starts.
As Martin said, videos are key. Whether or not you post them here for critique, being able to look back at your failures and successes are immensely helpful. Best of luck. Standing by,
Kelly
martin 'hoff
Super Anarchist
All good stuff. And you're getting good advise from all corners.
Just to note that the video is key for yourself (and anyone you ask for advise) to "see" your current setup and technique, and advise. For me, my early videos were key to get past my learning hiccups.
In other words - videos will get you to sustained flight.
IC43
New member
Hi everyone,
I bought a UFO this past March. It’s taken me until now to reach the final page of the forum. Luckily I’ve had the chance to sail the boat 4-5 times in foiling conditions and starting to figure it out. Largest issue is finding time/wind. Nevertheless, lot of good stuff here. I’m sure I missed a lot of it but a great resource.
One question, are there any events on the schedule, or is there a schedule? I think it would be fun to sail with/against a few more boats. I sail from Larchmont, NY where we have 3 UFOs, but so far I’ve only been out with another UFO once.
Regards,
Jamie
P.S. sorry for no pics or video, I’m super lame and need to improve in that area.
I bought a UFO this past March. It’s taken me until now to reach the final page of the forum. Luckily I’ve had the chance to sail the boat 4-5 times in foiling conditions and starting to figure it out. Largest issue is finding time/wind. Nevertheless, lot of good stuff here. I’m sure I missed a lot of it but a great resource.
One question, are there any events on the schedule, or is there a schedule? I think it would be fun to sail with/against a few more boats. I sail from Larchmont, NY where we have 3 UFOs, but so far I’ve only been out with another UFO once.
Regards,
Jamie
P.S. sorry for no pics or video, I’m super lame and need to improve in that area.
martin 'hoff
Super Anarchist
Welcome to the jungle @IC43! COVID year, no schedule right now. I organized a small event here in Miami couple months ago.
@Dave Clark - not a bad time to start asking whether we could/should have a winter event.
Gilles29
Member
What is the best way to dismount the 2 parts of a mast blocked by salt ? Several months ago, I saw a solution, but I can't find it again in the forum...
P Flados
Anarchist
FYI,
For the hard to raise sail, keep an eye on the hounds. I was having the sail bind up at the hounds at times until I re-configure things a little bit.
For the hard to raise sail, keep an eye on the hounds. I was having the sail bind up at the hounds at times until I re-configure things a little bit.
martin 'hoff
Super Anarchist
I'm pretty sure I've collected that in the unofficial owners' manual (in my signature)...
Gilles29
Member
Thanks. Can you elaborate a bit? Are you referring to the spot where the line to which the shrouds attach wraps the mast? I've had an eye on that and I'm not even there yet.
P Flados
Anarchist
Joseph Lapp
New member
Kelly,
Thank you for the information and videos. For sure, I am not giving up anytime soon! I’ve had several good nasal rinse recoveries – feels good not to go over. I can see my sheeting technique needs work which your videos clearly show. Unfortunately, I injured my left calf – trip over backwards and hit the upright spreader on the ground (I was assembling as a good wind was building). 10 stiches later and my sailing and rowing is on a pause – and a waste of a good foiling day. I do have one question for the owner’s guide.
Martin,
After closely reviewing several videos, I have a question regarding the small mainsheet block attached by bungee cord to the boom. I’ve been pushing the attachment point way forward on the boom which I now see is hurting my sheeting – there is more play in the mainsheet before the boom moves. So where should the bungee cord attach to the boom and how far from the boom? I may have missed in on the unofficial UFO Owner’s guide.
Thank you for the information and videos. For sure, I am not giving up anytime soon! I’ve had several good nasal rinse recoveries – feels good not to go over. I can see my sheeting technique needs work which your videos clearly show. Unfortunately, I injured my left calf – trip over backwards and hit the upright spreader on the ground (I was assembling as a good wind was building). 10 stiches later and my sailing and rowing is on a pause – and a waste of a good foiling day. I do have one question for the owner’s guide.
Martin,
After closely reviewing several videos, I have a question regarding the small mainsheet block attached by bungee cord to the boom. I’ve been pushing the attachment point way forward on the boom which I now see is hurting my sheeting – there is more play in the mainsheet before the boom moves. So where should the bungee cord attach to the boom and how far from the boom? I may have missed in on the unofficial UFO Owner’s guide.
Champlain Sailor
Member
Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you heal up quickly and can get back out on the water, summer is short! As for the location of the main sheet take-up block, I don't think it is too critical. My bungee is about 18" forward of the outhaul cleat on the boom. I think that's about where it was when I bought the boat, but it may have moved fore or aft a little. Once you are sheeted in it has no effect, but when you are taking it helps keep the mainsheet from snagging your hat (or your head) so its nice to have. I can see how if you move it way forward, it will begin to have a more 'active' role in the sheeting than it likely should.
Doug
Joseph Lapp
New member
Doug,
Summer is even shorter in Duluth MN! Hope to get back on the water - foiling or rowing next week.
Joe
Summer is even shorter in Duluth MN! Hope to get back on the water - foiling or rowing next week.
Joe
Hello,
Just picked up a demo hull that Speed Fulcrum is lending me while my hull gets built. I am a weekend warrior sailor. Laser mostly. Very excited to learn this. Located in MA, north shore of Boston. Anyone nearby?
I am reading through all the materials Kirk sent me and working through this thread, but if you don't mind, I'd like to ask advice on a simplified list of best practices while just learning the boat. There is a lot of info available which is great, but I want to concentrate on as few things as possible to start.
Rigging:
1. Rudder rake? I think this should be in the middle. Set-and-forget for now unless my bow is either rising too high and the wand coming out or clearly diving too low. How many turns from the back is neutral?
2. Main foil pin position? Set in the middle and forget it for now?
3. Battens: Lots of different things have been written about this. Sounds like first I need a baseline setting. To get that I tighten them until the battens stand on their own (I think that means laying the sail down and tightening until they bow upwards and hold) Some places it says until the wrinkles disappear. Agree? After that I am unclear of what to do for 10-12 knts
4. Do you use a Spinlock rig sensor? Necessary?
It sounds like I should not worry too much about rig settings to start because steering, body position and sheeting are much more impactful on performance than rig settings. Agree?
Sailing:
Active sheeting seems like the most important skill and active sheeting often means arm lengths, not micro-adjustments of a few inches. Agree?
Windward heel is what you want almost all the time once on the foils.
Taking off across the wind is easiest, per Dave's videos
Assuming what I put above is accurate, please correct me if not, what are your top two or three pieces of advice for learning? Thanks in advance for any response. I know a lot of this stuff is out there but there are (understandably) multiple versions
Just picked up a demo hull that Speed Fulcrum is lending me while my hull gets built. I am a weekend warrior sailor. Laser mostly. Very excited to learn this. Located in MA, north shore of Boston. Anyone nearby?
I am reading through all the materials Kirk sent me and working through this thread, but if you don't mind, I'd like to ask advice on a simplified list of best practices while just learning the boat. There is a lot of info available which is great, but I want to concentrate on as few things as possible to start.
Rigging:
1. Rudder rake? I think this should be in the middle. Set-and-forget for now unless my bow is either rising too high and the wand coming out or clearly diving too low. How many turns from the back is neutral?
2. Main foil pin position? Set in the middle and forget it for now?
3. Battens: Lots of different things have been written about this. Sounds like first I need a baseline setting. To get that I tighten them until the battens stand on their own (I think that means laying the sail down and tightening until they bow upwards and hold) Some places it says until the wrinkles disappear. Agree? After that I am unclear of what to do for 10-12 knts
4. Do you use a Spinlock rig sensor? Necessary?
It sounds like I should not worry too much about rig settings to start because steering, body position and sheeting are much more impactful on performance than rig settings. Agree?
Sailing:
Active sheeting seems like the most important skill and active sheeting often means arm lengths, not micro-adjustments of a few inches. Agree?
Windward heel is what you want almost all the time once on the foils.
Taking off across the wind is easiest, per Dave's videos
Assuming what I put above is accurate, please correct me if not, what are your top two or three pieces of advice for learning? Thanks in advance for any response. I know a lot of this stuff is out there but there are (understandably) multiple versions
